IN MEMORIAM
Lady Ostapeck, 99
Photographer Beloved
In Cooperstown, County
EXHIBIT FEATURES PHOTOS BY LADY OSTAPECK, 89
LADY OSTAPECK TOASTED IN HER NATIVE FINLAND
PORTRAIT ARCHIVE FROM PHOTOGRAPHY CENTER
Lady Ostapeck, Interviewed By Nick Argyros,
Gave This Outline Of Early Life, Local Career
Editor’s Note: This biographical outline was prepared by Nick Argyros, director of the Photography Center of the Capital District in Troy and a champion of Lady Ostapeck’s work.
• Alma “Lady” Ostapeck, born 2/22/18, Brooklyn NY to Esa Kaukinen
• Father recently arrived from Finland
• Mother died a few days after birth, father went to northwest (Washington?) for lumbering, and possibly to avoid World War I draft.
• Raised for 2 years by mother’s sister in Brooklyn, Conn., a Finnish enclave.
• Aunt and family murdered by deranged axe-wielding neighbor farmer, who spared the baby.
• After being shuffled among several Finnish families, was adopted (formally or informally is not known) by “Mamma” Jansen, a widow with a pre-teen daughter Ellen in New Jersey.
• Worked briefly at nearby aluminum plant (eventually Alcoa) where Ellen worked.
• Married briefly to Peter Ostapeck; one son, Bruce, born about 1940. Did not wish to remain a traditional housewife.
• Worked through 1940s as negative retoucher for studios in Manhattan.
• Used name Alma Jordan in that profession.
• Self-educated in art and design especially by many hours in the Metropolitan Museum. Briefly was dress designer. These artistic attributes became evident in her portrait photography.
(The preceding history is as told by Lady Ostapeck)
• Purchased farmhouse in Fly Creek to accommodate her horse, moved from New Jersey 1960s (??)
• Adopted name “Lady” from the appellation, “Lady with Horse.”
• Son Bruce Ostapeck died 2001 (??)
• With no formal schooling in photography, purchased a vintage camera at the Utica Salvation Army (Korona brand 4×5 studio view camera manufactured about 1910).
• Through ensuing decades, compiled large collections of clothing and props to be used in her unique style of Victorian portraiture.
• Photos and paintings exhibited widely, over 12 exhibits each in USA and Finland. Photos published in photography magazines. A founding member and fellow in The New Pictorialist Society.
• Most recent 4 exhibits at The Photography Center of the Capital District in Troy, NY and two major retrospectives in Kotka and Tampere, Finland, in 2008 and 2012.
• Two video biographies made (by director-producer Peter Marshall in 2001, and Omonike Akenyami in 2005) and two books of her portraits published by the Photography Center.
Lady Ostapeck was called the “Photographer with Soul”. How lucky I feel to have known her, to have sat before her camera and to have experienced her talent, uniqueness, courage and generosity of spirit. She was definitely a woman who knew how to inspire, to encourage others to do more, to live more fully, to even fly by the seat of one’s pants if necessary. Because she did. No surprise then that her favorite song is: I did it my way! Thank you, Lady, for the gift of you. RIP and love, Sandra Balint.
She gave me a lovely poem about “Hope” once- does anyone have that poem or recall the title or author?
I, too, had the pleasure to have had a sitting with the Lady! I had my portrait taken as a saloon girl, which I think I might have been in a past life!
I have a copy of Bruce’s obituary from The Daily Star. He did die at 60 on June 30, 2001.
She was an exceptional lady very loving and talented
I so loved Lady Ostapeck, you go to her home and go in the kitchen and have a cup of tea with her her, and that is how she decides what era you belong in !!!! Had some wonderful conversations with her. !!!
An exceptional human being. A women who had shown me that there really are no limits. She told me “never stop doing what you love.” She had great faith in my desire to move forward with my love for photography. I will! Rest in peace Lady. Fly high, be free. <3
I am just learning of Lady’s passing. I am so happy to have known you Lady. Thank you for all of your lovely suggestions and for filling the life of every member of our crew with a sense of wonder for the art of photography. We will miss you very much. It would have been nice to visit you in Herkimer. I know that your spirit will be a part of our terrain forever.
Love,
Omonike & Simone
I, too, am just learning of The Lady’s passing. My mother & I met her for the first time in 2011 when we visited her apartment bldg to ask her if she’d sign her books that we’d recently purchased. She was so gracious & engaging to “Shirley Whirley” & Dianne, the “Belle of Cincinnati.” My mother called it “our adventure!” Thank you, lovely Lady Ostapek; may you Rest In Peace.”
I sat for Lady. She came up a tall tale that made me very uncomfortable, but once I saw the photos, I retold many times. She also photographed my sister, my mother and both her sisters and HER mother and step father – I love how we all have a piece of Lady’s art and spunk and life and personality in our sitting room